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By now, most federal workers know that should there be a furlough it will mean a 20 percent pay cut. But are their retirement benefits in danger too? Senior Correspondent Mike Causey says not to worry.

The bottom line is this is about loyalty. Up to now the deal was you gave your worklife to the Government and in return they had your back. That deal has been broken for awhile, but now its to the point where it truly affects your life and everything worked for. My response has been I only work my required time with no free hours and no checking email at nights and on weekends. By doing that I have freed up about 10 hours a week that I now work at a part-time job.
Its not the best part-time job, but I can easily pick up additional work on days that....I don't know.....Im furloughed and the impact to my household budget will be minimalized. Still working the same house per day, but now have a built in safety net that is seperate from my Government job and savings....

If my hours are reduced 20%, that means I will be doing 20% less work. Or am I expected to work from home on my one-unpaid-day-a-week? If so, then Congress better think again. Working for the government without pay is illegal. Or is Congress unfamiliar with the laws they pass?

Your employer will be furloughing you, not Congress! Yes, Congress caused it, but they have nothing to do with how we are paid. You employer has a budget in the Operating & Maintenance. If they don't cut many other things, your salaray will be on the chopping block. And right now it is predicted to be once a day for each pay period from April till Sept. Some savvy and smart commands will find other ways to save and there could be no furlough. Commands and activities that feel their luxury travels and training are more important, consider yourself screwed!

For those commands that have low civilian pay bills, then they can take sacrifices in other areas to try and save the civilians. However, for those commands that are 80% civilians, then good luck. But keep in mind that the decisions are made at a high level and if the high level says cuts, then there are going to be cuts, regardless of the individual command.

...where in the heck does this guy get a 20% pay reduction from?? From where the sun doesn't shine when he's sitting down, that's where!! Maybe with less people around, he won't have much to write about and WTOP can finally release this guy to greener pastures!! Give us someone new, who knows how to knows how to investigate instead of repeating 'water fountain' rumors and making stuff up on the fly!! :(

Some of the older EE bonds are paying more than twice the interest rates of banks and some older I bonds are paying well over 3% right now. Probably want to check the interest rates before you cash out and put the money back into a bank. You would also owe federal taxes on the earnings when you cash out but could continue to accumulate tax free if you leave them. Uncle Sam would probably be happy if you cashed in your older savings bonds!